Hairpin dispenser



B. STEINBERG March 6, 1951 HAIRPIN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1948 TTOe/VEVS March 6, 1951 B. STEINBERG 2,544,114

HAIRPIN DISPENSER Filed Aug. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Y i I I y {leoaL '2 l lfal i L Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE HAIRPIN DISPENSER Betty Steinberg, Beverly Hills, Calif.

Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 41,930

8 Claims. l.

The-present invention relates to a dispenser for hairpins, bobby pins, paper clips, and the like froina pile in which such members are randomly disposed, and hasY particular applicablity'to dispensing hairpins`v and bobby pins.

`It is desirable that hairpins, bobby pins, and' the like be maintained in a predetermined posi-` tion, being a readily accessible one, andi ofY such nature that there is little likelihood that the appearance of a womans dressing table might be impairedv in day-to-day use of Ysuch articles, and such that the necessity of searching. for such "lost" pins is greatly reduced.`

It is therefore an object' of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement where#v by the aforesaid desirable results may be o`n tained.

" Another object of the present invention is toY provide an ornament useful for bothv decorating' a dressing table and for holding' andv storing members, such as pins in the hollow base thereof.

Another object of the present invention isl toV provide a hairpin dispenser useful' either in the home or in beauty parlors arrange'dto' dispenser in orderly manner, hairpins, bobby pins, andthe? like disposed in random fashion in a container.

While I appreciate the fact that'many different:

mechanisms have been suggested! for holding; storing and dispensinghairpins; bobby pins, andI the like, some of' which employ magneticv means,

none of such prior art arrangements function-.cr

are capable of functioning to dispense in orderly fashion, hairpins disposed in random fashion.

Still another object of the present inventionA is therefore to provide a dispenser arranged tor dispense in orderly fashion, hairpins, bobbyv pins, and the like disposed in random; fashion.

The features of the present'. invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with: particularity in the appended claims. This. invention. itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together withA furtherobjects and advantages thereof, may be best understoodA by reference to the following description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional View of'a combined hairpin storage. chamber and dispenser embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan viewk of the lid of the same, taken in the direction indicated by the arrows 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation ofi a hairpin of 2 the type dispensedby the arrangement shown in FigureV 1'.

Figure 5 is a v-iew'similar to the view shown in Figures', showing the manner in which a hairpin is held thereon in position for subsequent dispensing after the. upperv lid member is moved downwardly to its position shown; in Figure 6;

Figure 6 shows the lid member of Figure 5 in a different operating position for. relative movementtof the hairpin attached thereto;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional View through a modified pin storingv chamber and dispenser ernbodying the present invention;

Figure 8`is a top plan View ofthe same taken in 'the direction indicated by the arrows 8'8 in Figurev '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view' of the upper movable lid member taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Figure 8;

Figures 10 and 11', respectively, are sectional views taken on corresponding lines Ill-'Iii and Il-I in Figure 9; and

Figure 12 shows the lid member of Figure 10 rotated to aposition wherein it isA eliectiye to hook a hairpin.

.- ment as shown in. Figures '7 through 12 does not depend on magnetism for its operation and iunc tion. Referring specifically to the first arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6, the device is in the form of a hollow container or chamber in the interior of which are disposed the randomly disposed hairpins 9 of the type shown in Figure 4 having only the U-bend I!! magnetizab'le. These hairpins 9' may be of thetype shown and de scribed in the Hovious et al. Patent No. 2,083,845.

The device incorporatesa circular lid or closure member I 2f which is slidabl'y mounted on'the central guide post I3' and which is normally maintained in its position sho-wn in Figure l by the coil'supporting spring I4 encirclingA the post i3' which biases the lid member I2 upwardly against the` screw-threaded' cap member l5 on the upper end of the post I3, the cap member I5 serving as a stop member which may also be completely removed from its post i3 to allow removal ofthe lid i3 to gain access to the-interior of the device lil'. The structure ofthe lid or closure member l2 is of importance and forms an important feature of` the present invention taken 'alone or in combination with the spring means I4 for biasing it in operative position. --L

The spring biased lid or closure member I2 is circular and has a plurality of rectangular series of apertures I8 and I9 disposed at corresponding equal radial distances from its center. These series of openings I8 and |9 are arranged to allow passage therethrough of the hairpins 9, but to simultaneously cause the legs of the hairpin 9 to move closer together so that the legs of the hairpin resiliently press the shorter opposite walls of the openings I8 and I9 to thereby self maintain themselves in position wherein only their upper ends project through such openings I8 and I9 for convenient grasping when it is desired to use the same.

Each one of the openings I8, |9, of course, is arranged to so receive and to hold a single hairpin.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, there is mounted on opposite sides of some of the apertures I9 a pair of permanent Alnico cylindrical magnets 20, 2 I, the other apertures I9 being adjacent magnets 20, the magnetism of which permeates not only the region adjacent such other apertures I9 but also the region adjacent apertures I8 as well, The particular disposition of these magnets 20, 2| with respect to the corresponding openings I8, I9 is of importance as well as the cam surfaces ISA, |9B forming the mouth to such openings.

For the purposes of simplicity the openings I9 and associated magnets 20, 2| are described in detail, it being understood that the identical structure is associated with and includes the other series of rectangular openings I8.

As indicatedythe cam surfaces I9A, |9B define a mouth to the openings I9. These cam surfaces IQA, I9B are preferably contiguous chamfered surfaces on the magnets 20, 2| to increase their effectiveness, the magnets 20, 2| having like poles opposite.

In'operation of the device shown in Figure 1 the closure member I2 is pressed down twice. The first time the closure member I2 is pressed down the magnets 20, 2| are moved adjacent to randomly disposed magnetizable hairpins 9 disposed in the well of the container to attract them and to hold them in Contact with a cam surface I9A or I9B, as the case may be. The closure member I2 is then allowed to move upwardly under the inuence of spring I4 to assume the position shown in Figure 5. The closure member I2 is then moved downwardly a second time to assume the position shown in Figure, and in its movement from its position shown in Figure 5 to its position shown in Figure 6 the lower end of the hairpin 9 abuts against the lower surface of the well to force the hairpin up through the rectangular opening I9. AS explained previously, these openings I9 are of predetermined size so that the legs of the hairpin resiliently press the sides of the apertures to maintain the hairpin thereon with its upper end projecting upwardly therefrom in a position for convenient use. The `hairpins thus projecting outwardly from the cover member I2 may be used as needed, and when additional hairpins are required the closure member I2 is then moved downwardly twice in suction to again cause the hairpins to assume the positions inthe cover member indicated in Figure 6.

While I have utilized magnetic means in the modified arrangement shown in Figures 1 through 6, the same result may be achieved by clearly mechanical structural means as shown in the modified arrangement in Figures 'I through In Figure 7 the closure member I I2 is provided with a series of tapered apertures ||9 therethrough at the mouth of which is disposed a hook member |20 attached to and projecting from the bottom of the closure member II2. The closure member |I2 is movable vertically on the cylindrical guide rod |2| centrally located in the stationary hairpin container |22. The closure member I I2 is normally biased to its position shown in Figure '7 by the coil compression spring |23 disposed within a hollow cylindrical portion |25 of the handle member |24 which is integrally formed with the cover member |I2. The spring I 23 has its upper end pressed against the handle member |24, and the lower end of the spring |23 is pressed against the spring seat |21 which rests against the central stationary post |2I.

It is apparent that the structure is such that the handle member |24 may not only be moved downwardly to move the integrally formed cover member I I2 downwardly but also may be rotated to carry out the operation described hereinbelow.

It is noted that each one of the hook members |20 is disposed very close to the mouth of the tapered apertures I9, terminates in a point |20A. and has a re-entrant portion |20B serving as a saddle for a hairpin.

In operation of the device shown in Figure 'I the cover member ||2 is initially moved downwardly to bring the hook members |20 in a position where they engage randomly disposed hairpins stored within the well of the container |22. Simultaneously, or shortly thereafter, the cover member I|2 is rotated with the hooks at such lowered position so that these hooks |20 may hook a hairpin as indicated in Figure 12. Thereafter, after the hairpins are thus hooked, the cover member ||2 is allowed to move upwardly under the influence of spring 23 to its uppermost position, allowing the hairpins to hang vertically on the hooks |20 in their saddles |20B. Thereafter, the cover member I I2 is again moved downwardly to press the lower ends of the hairpins against the bottom surface of the well of the container |22 to press such hairpins upwardly into their apertures I|9 through which they project. The apertures |I9 are of predetermined size with respect to the distance between the legs of the hairpin so that the legs resiliently press against the sides of such grooves ||9 to self-support themselves with the upper ends of the hairpins projecting from the cover II2 for convenient use.

Preferably, the closure member |I2 is made of transparent plastic material to allow vision therethrough and to observe the position of the hooks |20 and whether they hook hairpins as they are rotated in the operation described hereinabove.

While I have described my dispenser shown in Figure 7 in connection with hairpins, it is readily apparent that other articles may be dispensed by this same operation described above. Such other articles may be bobby pins, paper clips, and the like.

,While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for magnetizable articles, the subcombination comprising a container having a movable cover member, Said movable cover mei ber having a plurality of apertures therethrough and magnetic means mounted on said cover member adjacent to said apertures to permeate said apertures with magnetism to thereby maintain said magnetizable objects against the walls of said apertures, said apertures each having a cross-sectional area slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of said articles to assure single file movement of said articles therethrough upon relative movement of said articles and said cover member.

2. A dispenser comprising a container having a movable cover member, said cover member having a plurality of apertures therethrough, magnetic means on said cover member disposed adjacent to said apertures, said cover member having a cam surface forming a mouth for each one of said apertures, said cam surface being disposed in proximity to said magnetic means and under the magnetic infiuence of said magnetic means, and said magnetic means being of sufcient strength that articles may be supported thereby in engagement with said cam surface.

3. A dispenser comprising a cover member, said cover member having aplurality of apertures therethrough, each one of said apertures having a tapered mouth portion, and magnetic means mounted on said cover member adjacent said tapered mouth portion to permeate the same with magnetism to support articles magnetically attracted thereby in engagement with said mouth portion.

4. A hairpin dispenser comprising a movable cover member having a plurality of apertures therethrough of such size that a hairpin may be self-supported in said apertures by the legs of a hairpin resiliently pressing against the Walls of said apertures, and magnetic means mounted on said cover member adjacent to the mouth o! said apertures to permeate said mouth with magnetism to support hairpins magnetically attracted thereby against the wall of said mouth.

5. A hairpin dispenser comprising a container having a movable cover member, at least one aperture in said cover member, said aperture having a mouth portion, and means mounted on said cover member below said mouth portion at and cooperating only wih the U-bend in the hairpin for holding said U-bend below said mouth portion.

6. A container with a well for storing randomly disposed U-shaped members to be dispensed, a vertically movable cover member movable initially from an upper position to a lower position adjacent said randomly disposed members. means mounted on the bottom of said cover member arranged to cooperate with the U-bend in said members to support in suspended position said members, said cover member having a plurality of apertures therethrough disposed adjacent said means, said apertures having a mouth portion adjacent said supporting means into Which said members may be pressed upon subsequent downward movement of said cover member.

'7. A hairpin dispenser comprising a container having a movable cover member, at least one aperture in said cover member, and a hook mounted on said cover member below the mouth of said aperture adapted to engage and to hold said hairpin at its U-bend.

8. A hairpin dispenser comprising a container having a vertically movable and rotatable cover member, at least one aperture in said cover member, and a hook shaped member extending below the mouth of said opening adapted to engage and to hold a hairpin at its U-bend.

BETTY STEINBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,443,520 Schwartz et al. June 15, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 286,675 Great Britain of 1928 

